Download The Romans

The Romans
I. Background Information
• Italians came into contact w/ the Greeks
when the Greeks sailed along the coast
– Set up colonies in the South
– The Greeks introduced their alphabet
•
•
•
•
Italy was the ideal center for trade
Neolithic cultures existed around 5000 B.C.
Indo-Europeans arrived @ 1500 B.C.
Etruscans @ 500 B.C.
– Lower classes revolted – led by Latins
Influence of the Etruscans
§ Writing
§ Religion
§ The Arch
II. The Rise of Rome
• Legend of Romulus/Remus
• Factual start (800-700 B.C.) – Latins agreed to
form one community
• Etruscan Rule (the Tarquins)
– Provided kings; were driven out in 509 B.C.
• Social Groups
– Patricians: Latin nobles; declared Rome a republic
– Plebeians: wealthy non-nobles (majority of pop.)
• The Roman Republic (two branches of govt.)
– Legislative: The Assembly of Centuries & Senate
– Executive: headed by two consuls
• Dictators in time’s of crisis
Republican Government
2 Consuls
(Rulers of Rome)
Senate
(Representative body for patricians)
Tribal Assembly
(Representative body for plebeians)
III. Roman Life
• Government: Plebeians vs. Patricians
–
–
–
–
Plebeians resented their lack of power
494 B.C. plebeians refuse to join military
Tribunes were selected to represent plebeians
The Twelve Tables: basis of all Roman Law
• All free citizens had a right to the law’s protection
• Family: basic unit of Roman society
– Men: absolute head of the household
• Could sell family members to pay a debt
• Felt deep responsibility for welfare of family
– Women: had few legal rights
• More freedoms than Greek women
• Wealthy women could gain some education
Carthaginian Empire
IV. Roman Expansion
• Military: organized into legions (smaller)
– Very disciplined; able to conquer w/ ease
• First Punic War: (264-241 B.C.)
– Carthage threatened to seize Strait of Messina
– Used land tactics on ships (grappling hooks)
• Second Punic War: (221 B.C.)
– Hannibal tried to invade from the North
– Scipio forced Hannibal to retreat to Africa
– Defeated Hannibal at Zama – pay an indemnity
• Third Punic War: (146 B.C.)
– Rome entered Carthage and burned it to the ground
– Scattered survivors into slavery
V. Roman Crisis and Reform
• 130 B.C – Rome controlled the Med. region
• Social discontent was a growing problem
–
–
–
–
Unemployment increased
100 B.C. – slaves made up 30% of the population
Wealthy enlarged their latifundia (estates)
Widening of the social gap
• Reform Efforts
– Gracchus Brothers: limit the size of latifundias and
redistribute land to the poor
– Marius: became consul in 107 B.C.
• Wanted the poor to serve in the military
• 73-71 B.C. – slave revolt led by Spartacus
VI. Julius Caesar (100-44 B.C.)
• Allied with Pompey & Crassus: 1st Triumvirate
• Military victories = advancement of career
– Took command in Gaul
– Crossed the Rhine and fought Germanic tribes
• Positives from time in Gaul:
– Away during times of disorder/corruption
– Became wealthy from conquests
– Gained support of soldiers (pay and promotion)
• Hailed as a hero by the lower classes
VI. Julius Caesar (continued)
• 50 B.C. – Crassus was killed in battle
• 49 B.C. – the Senate ordered Caesar to surrender
his army and return to Rome
– Crossed the Rubicon: “No Turning Back”
– Defeated Pompey in Greece
• 45 B.C. – took over Rome’s govt. as dictator
– Great Ruler or Tyrant?
• Crushed opposition, but treated them mildly
• 44 B.C. – Cassius and Brutus had him killed
• His changes to centralize the govt. were never
reversed
Beware the Ides of
March! - 44 BCE
VII. Octavian (Caesar Augustus)
• Joined forces with M. Antony & M. Lepidus
– Second Triumvirate – avenge Caesar’s death
– Divided the Roman Empire among themselves
• Lepidus was forced to retire
• Antony married Cleopatra
– Octavian convinced the Senate that Antony
intended to rule on his own with Cleopatra at his
side
• 31 B.C – Octavian defeated Antony at Actium
– Became the undisputed ruler of Rome
– “the first citizen” avoided being the king/dictator
VII. Octavian (continued)
• His rule marked the beginning of
an “Empire”
• Was appointed consul, tribune,
and commander for life
• 27 B.C. – gave himself the title
“Augustus” - The Majestic One
• Was interested in the
arts/architecture in Rome
– “… I found Rome a city of brick
and left it a city of marble.”
VIII. Pax Romana (31 B.C. – A.D. 180)
• Time of “peace” in the Roman Empire
• Family became less significant
• Middle-class able to gain more
money/power
• Majority of the population was still poor
– Harsh overcrowded conditions
– “Free bread and circuses” lessened revolts
– 130 holidays a year
• Architectural Advances
–
–
–
–
Circus Maximus
Colosseum
Pantheon (rebuilt by Hadrian)
Aqueducts and network of roads were very
advanced
Pax Romana:
27 BCE – 180 CE
The Appian Way
Roman Aqueducts
The Roman Colosseum
The Colosseum Interior
Circus Maximus
IX. Emperors
• Julio-Claudians (members of Caesar’s family):
–
–
–
–
Tiberius: able leader; accused people of treason
Caligula: became mentally ill; killed by a guard
Claudius: renowned scholar; difficulty focusing
Nero: cruel and “insane”; persecuted the early
“Christians”; sentenced to death for treason
• Good Emperors (administrative skills):
–
–
–
–
Trajan: increased the size of the Empire
Hadrian: strengthened the frontier
Antonius Pious: maintained prosperity
Marcus Aurelius: “the philosopher ruler”; brought
the empire to its height of prosperity
X. The Roman Empire
• Imperial Rule:
– Augustus improved the working or the empire;
kept the Senate “uninvolved”
– Augustus appointed himself Pontifex Maximus
• The Law:
– jus gentium: law that dealt with noncitizens
– jus civile: law that dealt with citizens
– Formed the basis for Church and Western law
• An Imperial Army:
– Standing army was reduced in size due to peace
– A.D. 160s – invasions by outsiders become a
problem
X. The Roman Empire
• The Economy:
– Artisans made commodities that were sold
throughout the empire
– Traded commodities for “luxury” goods
• Educational Advances/Accomplishments
– Galen:
• Formed the basis of Roman medical science
which influenced medicine for the next 1400
years
– Ptolemy:
• Egyptian astronomer whose work later allowed
others to predict the planets’ motions
XI. The Rise of Christianity
• Christianity was practiced in the Med. region
– Jews were oppressed under Roman rule
– Hoped for a “messiah” to deliver them
• Jesus of Nazareth (ministry = A.D. 30-33)
– Preached that God was loving/forgiving to all
– Controversy troubled Roman and Jewish officials
– Pontius Pilate sentenced him to crucifixion
• Believed that Jesus’ teachings would die with him
– A.D. 100 – Gospel preached in all of Roman
Empire
• Jews and Gentiles both began to est. churches
XI. Rise of Christianity (continued)
• Two Main Disciples
– Peter: primarily ministered to the Jews
• Believed that he founded the church in Rome
• Crucified upside down
– Paul: primarily ministered to Gentiles
• Was once a persecutor of “Christians”
• Nero had him beheaded
• Persecution of Early Christians
–
–
–
–
Taught that their religion was the only way
Were accused of treason (did not honor emperor)
Often were killed as martyrs (in the Colosseum)
Christianity was mainly practiced in the cities
The Spread of
Christianity
XII. Roman Adoption of Christianity
• A.D. 312 – Constantine led his army into
battle under the sign of the “flaming cross”
• A.D. 313 – Edict of Milan
– Allowed for freedom of religious worship
• A.D. 325 Council of Nicaea
– Decided on official doctrine/teachings
– Jesus had both human and godly qualities
• A.D. 392 – Theodosius I made Christianity
the official religion of the empire
– Banned old Hellenistic and Roman religions
XIII. The Early Church
• Needed clearly stated, unified teachings in
order to prosper (Council of Nicaea)
• Augustine – City of God and Confessions
• Church Structure (hierarchy)
– Priests, Bishops, Patriarchs
– 400s: the Bishop of Rome claimed authority over
all of the other bishops
– Greek churches did not recognize his auth.
– The Great Schism: a large split in the church
• Latin (Western) churches became Roman Catholic
• Greek (Eastern) churches became Eastern Orthodox
XIV. Roman Decline
• A.D. 200s – Germanic tribes begin to
invade in the west
• Empire’s Problems:
– End of the Good Emperor’s
– Political instability
– Economic decline
• Empire Reformers
– Diocletian (284): issued the Edict of Prices
– Constantine (312): job reforms; Constantinople
– Theodosius I (337): divided the Empire
XIV. Roman Decline (continued)
• Barbarian (German) Invasions
– Reasons to invade: climate, wealth, fleeing Huns
– The Visigoths: led by Alaric; later retreated to
Gaul
– The Huns: Led by Attila – Eastern Empire
• The End of the Western Empire:
–
–
–
–
Vandals raided/sacked Rome
Odoacer seized control of Rome
Roman culture was adopted by the “barbarians”
In the Byzantines, Hellenistic culture prevailed
Attila the Hun:
“The Scourge of god”
The Legacy of Rome
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
Republic Government
Roman Law
Latin Language
Roman Catholic Church
City Planning
Romanesque Architectural Style
Roman Engineering
•
•
•
•
•
Aqueducts
Sewage systems
Dams
Cement
Arch